Dictionary

Smithian en · ADJ

Etymology

Etymology tree English Smith Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Italic *-nos Proto-Italic *-ānos Latin -ānus Latin -iānusbor. English -ian English Smithian From Smith + -ian.

Meanings

1. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a person bearing the surname Smith.
2. Of or characteristic of the theories of the political economist Adam Smith (1723–1790).
   • [One economic phenomenon driving growth] is what is known as “Smithian growth”—the gains from trade and specialization. 2026, Joel Mokyr, “Nobel Lecture: The Past and Future of Innovation: Can Progress Be Sustained?”, in American Economic Review, volume 116, number 7, →DOI, pages 2299–2323:
   • Smith's ideas inform Austen's most beloved novel too. In Pride and Prejudice, the idea of pride is Smithian. 2025 May 17, Henry Oliver, “Without prejudice”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 18:
3. Of a regional geological stage of the Early Triassic epoch (249.7 – 247.4 Ma; preceded by the Dienerian and followed by the Spathian).

Forms

Deriveds

Smithianism

Relateds

Malakovian

Translations (2)

es smithiano (Translations) · fr smithien (Translations)